My dad used to own a walking stick carved & painted to resemble a snake. Once, while I was watching TV, he sneaked up behind me with the stick, slowly moving it toward me. When I turned & saw the stick, I nearly did backflips. It was funny.
That’s exactly what’s happening with these cats. People are sneaking up behind them and sticking something there which the cat KNOWS wasn’t there before - it could be any object - and the unexpected simply startles them.
I tried introducing my cats to a cucumber today. I put it on the floor while they watched; they poked and sniffed a little; and then they walked away toward other, more interesting pursuits.
If it had been a new cardboard box that came in the mail, or a paper bag from today’s groceries, there would have been quite a jolly show. We are tripping over fancy cat toys, here; but all the cats want is a box, a bag, even a paperclip :-)
Cucumber? Zilch, Nada.
-JT